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New 650 and another long ride home.

Kcso

Well travelled
Location
Bloomfield Ne
Picked up my new/used 650 Int the other day and rode it home from Iowa. Started ed out with 187 miles and now have over 400.
I have had to redo the adjustments on the shifter, brake and reset the clutch, but now have it where it is comfortable for me. I was surprised at the grunt for just 47 horses. I never had to go over 4700 rpm even on the Interstate. By the by I29 is a mess, a lot of asphalt and pot holes. Had to buck the wind again and was plumb tuckered after 200 miles.

A lot different from my Yamaha cruiser with the touring seat and back rest. But at least I can move this one in the garage.
 

RobH

Getting there...
Location
Upstate NY, USA
A lot different from my Yamaha cruiser with the touring seat and back rest. But at least I can move this one in the garage.
Honestly this was key for me in moving away from my (now sold) '84 Honda Sabre (VF700S). Not only was there too much work to do on it all the time, but it was way too heavy. I'd leave it in the garage and take the car far too often. With the Interceptor I leave it behind the car. If I need the car I move the bike--it's easy--and at the end of the day I put it back. Riding so much more than I have in the past few years.

Now only if it didn't lean so far over when I put it on the side stand, it would be easier to fit behind the car in the garage...
 

Lost in the 60's

Well travelled
Location
Mobile, Alabama
Now only if it didn't lean so far over when I put it on the side stand, it would be easier to fit behind the car in the garage...
I put one of these on mine.


It doesn't help much with the lean, but at least it makes it feel a little more secure on the side stand. However I used the center stand most of the time when I parked it.
 

Woodstock

Well travelled
Location
Woodstock, NY
I put one of these on mine.


It doesn't help much with the lean, but at least it makes it feel a little more secure on the side stand. However I used the center stand most of the time when I parked it.
I also have the side stand extender. In fact, I believe I now I have GJC's side stand extender. Equally, I also use the center stand for security. But re the lean, see Wachuko's post on the piece his neighbor made. It seemed a good fix.
 

Oregonstaffy

Well travelled
Location
SW Oregon
Congrats ! I sold a Suzuki C90 to make room for mine in the garage, much easier to store and move around and more fun on the twisty roads we have here.
 

Gone in 60

Well travelled
Location
California
Congratulations on the new bike! I bought mine about a hundred miles from home and remember that long first ride home. Enjoy many more rides.

Due to the Tetris of two cars and two bikes in the garage, my Interceptor is behind my car as well. Helps to have a little car!
 

Alan F.

Well travelled
I know what you mean, it's not my thing either. I bought the cheapest spare tank I could find (bare tank, no fuel sensor, pump or cap) I thought it was Orange Crush but it was Canyon Red when it arrived. Maybe I should put it up for trade if someone wants to meet up, shipping is expensive and it'd be a good excuse for a long ride.
 

JBacklund

Well travelled
Now only if it didn't lean so far over when I put it on the side stand, it would be easier to fit behind the car in the garage...
The Int/GT 650 side stand is definitely a bit of idiocy on the part of RE's designers....if, in fact, anyone actually designed that part, and why that situation hasn't been addressed by the factory, oh...say...five years ago, is another mystery. But, hey, it certainly adds to some of the mystifying quirky details of this bike, doesn't it?

As for parking the bike, I use the centerstand 90% of the time (Interceptor only, unfortunately), and only have the bike on the side stand after starting it and while putting on my gear.
 

JBacklund

Well travelled
I suspect the side stand was designed for use with 17" wheels and was never changed when 18" wheels were decided on.
Possibly, but how indifferent do they have to be to not put another inch onto that side stand a long time ago. It's not like it would be a technical challenge or anything like that at the manufacturer level. It ain't exactly a high tech mod....just make the damn stone-axe simple thing an inch longer.

It ain't like they don't put these bikes on the side stand a few times at the factory before shipping them out.

You'd think that someone with a little authority over there would notice that their new 650's are keeling over a bit too much when parked, and think, "Hey! we should make that stupid thing an inch longer".
 

Alan F.

Well travelled
I'm hearing you. I can't help but think it could have been an error, but they'd made a quarter million of them by the time it was discovered. I can imagine a meeting with one engineer and a gaggle o bean counters.... that went poorly.
 
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